HOT TOPICS:

Minnesota Timberwolves' Rashad McCants to the rescue in win over Miami Heat

His 27 points help win battle of the bad

BY RICK ALONZO Pioneer Press

Posted:
01/09/2008 12:01:00 AM CST

Updated:
01/09/2008 12:55:06 PM CST

Somebody had to win.

Rashad McCants and the struggling Timberwolves outlasted the similarly downtrodden Miami Heat 101-91 Tuesday night in a game of historic proportions.

Only five NBA games had been played since 1954-55 in which teams had worse combined records through a minimum of 30 games. Minnesota and Miami began the night with a combined 12-55 record.

The Wolves (5-29) ended their losing streak at eight games behind McCants' 27 points and double-digit scoring from the other four starters.

It had been a trying few days for the Wolves, who were blown out at home by Dallas 101-78 and were called out by coach Randy Wittman and vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale for a lack of effort.

Wittman inserted McCants into the starting lineup in hopes of finding a spark. The move paid off with a victory for a young, rebuilding team that hadn't won since a 131-118 victory over Indiana on Dec. 21.

"It's a big lift off our shoulders, having lost that many in a row, being able to come together at a time like this," McCants said. "I think 2008, it's going to be a big change for us. I think last year was an adjustment stage, trying to get adjusted to the new style, new coach, the new players, our whole chemistry. I think now we're starting to get a gist of what kind of basketball we want to play."

McCants averaged 27.3 points in the past three games, including a career-high 34 Friday against Denver.

Advertisement

But unlike Sunday, when he scored most of his 21 points in garbage time, his contributions were meaningful against Miami.

McCants pushed the Wolves to a fast start, scoring 18 points in the first half as Minnesota led 59-47 heading into the locker room.

"When he attacks the basket, he's at his best," said center Al Jefferson, who added 18 points and 10 rebounds. "Even the best shooters have bad nights. But when you attack the basket, get in there and get fouled, get easy baskets, it opens the floor up for him and us."

If McCants continues to score and be effective in other areas, it will be a big boost. He hadn't started since Dec. 19 against Golden State. He started Tuesday's game hot, making all three of his shots in the first quarter.

McCants by a wide margin outplayed Miami's Ricky Davis, the former Wolf traded in October to Miami along with Mark Blount. Davis took just two shots in the half and missed both. Davis scored only five points in 26 minutes during his return to Target Center.

Davis had trouble guarding McCants and didn't play in the fourth quarter, when both teams had trouble executing. The Wolves shot just 40 percent (8 for 20) in the fourth quarter and had five turnovers.

The second half wasn't great for Minnesota, which shot 37.5 percent after halftime and committed nine turnovers. Still, the Wolves were buoyed by their strong first half and a season-high 29 assists overall.

"Tonight showed when we go out and play hard, play together and when a team makes a run, instead of putting our head down, just attack back, that we can come out with a victory," Jefferson said. "We need to do it every night."

The Wolves, who led by 19 points in the third quarter, could have put the victory away much earlier if not for a rough finish to the third. Marko Jaric's three-pointer made it 77-58 with 6:27 left in the third, but the Wolves scored just five points the rest of the quarter, all on free throws.

Miami (8-27), which played its sixth straight game without injured center Shaquille O'Neal, drew no closer than six points in the fourth quarter. Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 25 points.

The Wolves picked a good time to snap their losing streak. Five of their next six games are on the road, starting Friday at Houston and continuing Saturday at San Antonio.

Now the Wolves will attempt to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.